| Whoever said that learning anything new was easy is | | | | head, but still far enough to see them. You have just |
| probably bluffing. Like learning to ride a bike, the first | | | | laid out the top portion of your wind window. Of |
| few times will be difficult as well as discouraging for | | | | course, all the techniques mentioned above will take |
| the beginner. And without the right guidance and | | | | some constant practice to get used to, but once |
| proper motivation, you might give up that easily. Kite | | | | you've mastered them all, you will have an easier |
| surfing is no different from other sports. With the | | | | control of the kiteboard. |
| right instructor to provide you a solid foundation, you | | | | Learning how to steer the kite is the next thing to |
| can definitely shorten the learning curve and can | | | | accomplish. This generally involves the manual practice |
| improve faster than self-taught riders. | | | | of moving and pulling back the bar, moving it to left |
| Training Equipment | | | | and right to get used to the motion. Practice this |
| Before heading out to sign up for your first lessons, | | | | motion to establish muscle memory, once you've got |
| there are a couple of things that you can do to stay | | | | this down then you are on the right path on how to |
| ahead of every beginner out there. The first thing to | | | | control the kiteboard. |
| get is a training kite. This will help you learn all the | | | | Next on the list is positioning basics. Try to practice |
| basic fundamentals in trying to gain control of the | | | | your power stroke. For those that do not know this, |
| kite. Training kites are designed to be smaller than | | | | a power stroke is what you do to get up on the |
| the real kites as they mostly used for learning and | | | | board. Make sure to also practice board starts or the |
| instruction. Since mastering the kite is what most | | | | correct method of positioning your legs as you move |
| instructors will first teach you, a training kite gives | | | | up from the water. |
| you the necessary experience in handling before you | | | | As you practice, try to strap in your equipment to |
| even head out for your first lessons. By practicing | | | | get a feel on board. Start moving the kite to get an |
| with the training kite, you are starting to build the | | | | idea on how it will react when you're really out on |
| basic skills before you even head out. | | | | sea. To mix it up, you can even try to use |
| Find Your Wind Window | | | | skateboards or rollerblades to get a different |
| Next thing you need to know is how to gauge the | | | | experience. Just make sure to do this with the right |
| wind direction to find your wind window. As you look | | | | safety equipment. Just try to start slow and increase |
| towards the wind, or downwind, just throw your | | | | speed as gain more experience. |
| arms to form an X or a cross, and try to move | | | | Learning how to kiteboarding will really take some |
| them towards each other. As you move your hands, | | | | time. In fact, it isn't uncommon for beginners to |
| be aware on where they are using your peripheral | | | | practice at least 10 hours before their first kite |
| vision. By doing this technique, you are mostly to find | | | | surfing lesson. But with the right preparation by |
| the bottom edge of the wind window. | | | | following the methods mentioned above, you are |
| Now, move them into an arc position above your | | | | already way above the rest. |